While many local soccer coaches, players and their families were converging on Lindsay High School this weekend to witness the best that the Central Section CIF had to offer in both Boys and Girls High School, the South Valley Chivas Academy coaching staff was at Sonoma State University learning from world reowned coaches of the likes of Frans Hoek, current Manchester United goalkeeper coach and ex Dutch National Team goalkeeper coach. This type of mentality is what has always characterizes the South Valley Chivas Academy philosophy of thinking which encompasses developing player to compete beyond the local area.
The South Valley Chivas coaching staff attended the Annual International Soccer Coaching Course being held at Sonoma State and being put on by the NorCal Premier soccer league which is the most competivitve youth soccer league in Northern California. Lectures for the course were given by world reowned coaches as the mentioned Frans Hoek, Gordon Young from Sheffield United of England, Renato Paiva and Ricardo Nuna both of Benfica of Portugal and US Soccer Federation Women Development Coach and Scout, Jitka Klimkova. Klimkova was flowned in from Canada late Saturday night after the US Women vs Japan World Cup game to be at the course. She was going to lecture on Sunday afternoon and she was returning back to Canada to join the US Women National team in preparation to play against US Women National team playing against Germany on Tueday.
Topics covered at the course were analyzing games, scouting model, player profiles, conditioning and fitness worldload of players and numerous field sessions conducted by each expert coach.
In contrasts to the local high school allstar game played this weekend in Lindsay, the NorCal Premier was showcasing their best NPL Player Development Program boys and girls high school players in front of this world class coaches and numerous college coaches who were in attendance taking the course. Coaches from Sonoma State, Sacramento State, Cal, Humbolt State, Cal East Bay, University Of Pacific and Fresno Pacific univerity to mention a few. Not to mention that on Sunday the girls were showcased in front of Jitka Klimokova who is also a scout for the US Soccer Women National Teams.
Video interview with Frans Hoek
Video of Gordon Young
Video Renato Paiva and Ricardo Nuna
Video interview with Jitka Klimkova